Tinian

Tinian is an island located in the Northern Marianas Islands. The small island has a population of 3,136 people, most of whom live in the village of San Jose. Tinian was colonized by Spain on 6 March 1521 and sold to the German Empire in 1899, but the Germans let the Spanish and the mestizo landholders govern the island. In 1914, Japan seized the island from Germany during World War I, and the Japanese developed the island. By June 1944, 15,700 Japanese citizens (including 2,700 Koreans) lived on the island, which was defended by 8,500 Imperial Japanese Army troops. From 24 July-1 August 1944, the United States fought the Japanese garrison of Tinian during World War II, and only 313 Japanese soldiers survived the battle. In 1978, the USA gave independence to the Northern Marianas Islands, although it continued to host a US Air Force base for many more decades to come.